US Capitol Christmas Tree

It’s no surprise that Iron Mountain is one of the most well-known hikes on the Sweet Home Ranger District. The area is home to more than 300 species of
flowering plants and jaw-dropping geology. There are several different access points to the trail near Highway 20 east of Sweet Home. Hikers can enjoy
a range of treks from a 1 mile jaunt up to summit from the Civil Road trailhead, or a longer 9 mile loop that includes Cone Peak. A viewing platform
sits on the summit at the site of an old fire lookout. On a clear day, one can see all the way north to Mt Hood and south to the Three Sisters. Peak
wildflower season is July, so this is the perfect opportunity to check out Iron Mountain!

The Crescent Mountain hike is challenging but with great scenic rewards! The main trailhead (south trailhead) is located a short distance from Santiam
Pass. The trail winds through lush old growth trees before switch-backing through an expansive meadow. After 4 miles, the trails tops out at the summit
with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet. The hike pays dividends with spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains and wildflowers. Since this is not
a wilderness trail, Crescent Mountain is open to multiple uses including mountain bikes and horses. Please remember to be respectful and share the
trail!

In 2018, America is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act.
Today, the National Trails System (NTS) includes 11 National Scenic Trails and 19 National Historic Trails authorized by Congress, and more than 1,200
National Recreation Trails (including 21 National Water Trails). Preservation and development of Rail Trails is also fostered in this act. These trails
provide outdoor recreation opportunities, promote resource preservation and public access, and encourage the appreciation of the great outdoors and
America’s history and cultural diversity.

The task to protect and maintain more than 200,000 miles of trails in the U.S. requires a collaborative effort among trail clubs, organizations, government
agencies, and most importantly passionate trail advocates and stewards. An initiative of the American Hiking Society,
National Trails Day was first celebrated in 1993 to commemorate the 25th anniversary
of the National Trails System Act and has been held annually on the first Saturday in June ever since. National Trails Day encourages Americans of
all ages and abilities get out and enjoy, build and maintain trails during one of the thousands of events hosted throughout the country.

With over 1.5 million acres, the beautiful Willamette National Forest is home to 8 wilderness areas – including the popular Three Sisters and Mt. Jefferson
Wildernesses – and has over 1,700 miles of trails for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The varied landscapes of the high
mountains, costal rainforests, narrow canyons and cascading streams offer visitors excellent opportunities to play and explore. That’s why “Find Your
Trail” is the perfect theme for the 2018 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree – we’re paying homage to the 50th anniversary, promoting exploration and enjoyment
of trails and National Forests with youth and families, and fostering understanding and stewardship of the importance of our forests.

Whether you’re a part of an official event today or enjoying one of your favorite trails throughout the year, be sure to appreciate the tireless work that
goes in to caring for our trails and consider taking the American Hiking Society pledge: Leave the trail better than you found it.

Are you in search of a challenging hike with beautiful views? Check out the Trail of the Month on the Sweet Home Ranger District, the Pyramids Trail (#3380).
The trail is located to the north of Santiam Pass and can be accessed by either a north or south trailhead. Learn more here.

The southern option is the easiest and most commonly used trailhead. On the south end, the trail offers stunning views of a large rock face before
switch-backing up the Southern Pyramid eventually leading to a summit on the Middle Pyramid. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Central
Oregon! Wildflowers will be abundant beginning in June.

This is a multi-use trail, so you may encounter hikers, mountain bikers or horses. Remember to use proper trail etiquette and share the trail!

Hardesty Mountain just off Hwy 58 in the Willamette National Forest offers a challenging hike. The 3,323 foot gain over 5 miles makes it a good training
hike. There isn't a view from the summit, but there are many trilliums out and you may even see a rough-skinned newt waiting for lunch. Learn more.

Around the country, the leaves are changing to hues of gold and orange, the air is getting crisp and cool, and the days are becoming shorter; all indicators
that the winter holidays are nearly upon us. Certainly the holidays hold many moments of enchantment, but one of the most fascinating parts about the
holidays in my opinion? The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tour. While I’ve never been a part of the tour myself, this year I’ve been a part of some of
the amazing behind-the-scenes happenings as the team gears up for the month of November.

If you haven’t heard about the Capitol Christmas Tree, let me give you a little insight into this much-loved and anticipated American tradition. It all
started in 1964, when speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John W. McCormack (D-MA), planted a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. The
inaugural Capitol Christmas Tree didn’t survive past three season, but the idea and concept around the tree stuck, thus the “People’s Tree” was born.
Each holiday season since, the USDA, Forest Service selects and delivers a Spruce, Fir, or Pine tree to represent the country as the U.S. Capitol Christmas
Tree in Washington D.C. The chosen tree is not an ordinary tree; it is a handpicked specimen from a national forest, and with the help of thousands
of people it is transported to the capitol, making many stops along the way as onlookers stand in awe.

The Capitol Christmas Tree arrives in Washington D.C. roughly a month after its initial departure from the forest. Upon arrival at its place of honor,
the tree is decorated with thousands of unique ornaments donated by people from all over the country. From classrooms to nursing homes, the tree is
decorated from head-to-toe, with a little piece from every corner of Idaho.

What’s truly special about the tree is the connections it builds between people—between communities. From the very beginning, the tree has a support
system, people who come to help remove and transport the tree. People who plan for months to make sure that the tree can be seen by as many people
as possible while on it’s tour. As the tree makes its way across the country, local communities come out to support the tree and see the regal tree
in all its glory. For many, it’s a tradition that began during their childhood. They waited with their families for the Capitol Christmas Tree to stop
in their town, and today they bring their own children. Each year the photos archived are filled with smiles. Young smiles and wrinkly smiles that
beam American Pride and anticipation of the season.

This American tradition has not been a tradition for some, but a tradition for many, bringing old and new faces together with the U.S. National Forest
Service and Choose Outdoors. Don’t take my word for it though—check out the list of cities that the 2016 People’s Tree, an 80-foot, Englemann
Spruce from Payette National Forest will be passing through. With over twenty-five stops in communities along its 4000-mile trek, perhaps one of them
will be near enough so that you can be a part of the magic!

Recent Posts

The 2018 United States Capitol Christmas Tree campaign has reached a new phase of its official process this week. A representative of the Architect of
the Capitol is visiting the Willamette National Forest to review candidate trees and to select the Capitol Christmas Tree, which be displayed on the
West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in December. Making the trip from Washington, D.C. is Jim Kaufmann, the Director of the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum
at the Architect of the Capitol, the federal agency responsible for the operations and care of the U.S. Capitol buildings and grounds.

Together with the local “tree team,” which includes foresters and a botanist, Kaufmann is currently evaluating tree candidates and will select the 2018
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, although the winning tree and its location will be kept secret for security reasons until it is cut down in early November.

Kaufmann will be evaluating each tree for a variety of desired characteristics, including being 65-85 feet in height, having a straight
stem, uniform branching, a perfectly conical shape, natural density, and rich green color. Each of the tree candidates is either a Douglas or Noble
fir tree, the two most iconic conifer species in both the Willamette National Forest and the state. The Douglas fir is Oregon’s official state tree.
Also of great importance is the tree’s accessibility by crane and semitruck for when it’s time for it to be harvested. Additionally, the U.S. Forest
Service is evaluating each location to ensure the protection of sensitive habitats and species.

“Oregon is known around the country for its spectacular natural beauty, including its incredible national forests. It’s a privilege to visit the Willamette
National Forest to select the 2018 Capitol Christmas Tree,” said Kaufmann. “I have no d
oubt that we will find the perfect tree for the West Lawn of the Capitol, and we’re thrilled to have Oregon be an important part of the nation’s holiday
celebration this year.” “It’s very exciting to have reached this stage of the yearlong U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree process, which started in January
when the U.S. Forest Service announced that the Willamette National Forest had been selected to provide the 2018 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree,” said
Nikki Swanson, Sweet Home District Ranger. “We have identified some absolutely beautiful candidates that will represent the State of Oregon perfectly,
and we look forward to unveiling the winning tree in November, as we tour it along the Oregon Trail on its way to Washington, D.C.”

The U.S. Forest Service has provided the Capitol Christmas Tree every year since 1970. In January 2018, the U.S. Forest Service announced
that the 2018 Capitol Christmas Tree would come from Oregon’s Willamette National Forest. A gift from the Willamette National Forest and the State
of Oregon to the people of the United States, the tree will be displayed on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., with a public
tree-lighting ceremony in early December 2018. The last time Oregon was chosen to provide the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was in 2002, when a tree
was selected from the Umpqua National Forest. Seventy smaller companion trees will also be sent to Washington, D.C., from the Willamette National Forest
to decorate government buildings and public spaces this December. Additionally, Oregonians will contribute 10,000 handmade ornaments, to be created
throughout 2018. There is still a great need for weatherproof ornaments that are nine to twelve inches in size to decorate the Capitol Christmas tree.
Information on upcoming ornament making events, plus a template for creating one at home, is available online.

The theme for the 2018 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is “Find Your Trail!” in recognition of two 2018 anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the National
Trails System Act and the 175th commemoration of the Oregon Trail. In November, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will travel eastward from Oregon on
the reverse path of the Oregon Trail. The schedule and special events will be announced this fall. There is still a chance for people to win a trip
for two to Washington, D.C., to attend the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting and festivities through the “Find Your Ornament” contest. Earlier this
summer, 200 glass ornaments were hidden along non-wilderness trails on the Willamette National Forest for lucky adventurers to find. In addition to
a keepsake ornament, more than 120 winners will be awarded prizes, and all entrants will be automatically entered to win the grand prize trip to Washington,
D.C. The contest runs through October 2, 2018. Further details are available at the Willamette Valley Visitors Association.

We hope to create 2,000 additional large ornaments as part of our larger goal of sending 10,000 ornaments to D.C. this year. All Oregon residents are invited
to create and submit ornaments directly to us or to attend an upcoming ornament making event.

Make your own: large
ornaments should be 9-12 inches, reflective and colorful, lightweight and waterproof. They cannot include any logos. Download this brochure for specifications and themes. For ornament ideas, check out our photos and instructions posted here. Keep in mind these are just ideas; feel free to get creative!
All ornaments must be received by October 1 and can be dropped off in person at any one of our drop locations located here or mailed to the Sweet Home
Ranger District at: 4431 Hwy 20, Sweet Home OR 97386.

It’s no surprise that Iron Mountain is one of the most well-known hikes on the Sweet Home Ranger District. The area is home to more than 300 species of
flowering plants and jaw-dropping geology. There are several different access points to the trail near Highway 20 east of Sweet Home. Hikers can enjoy
a range of treks from a 1 mile jaunt up to summit from the Civil Road trailhead, or a longer 9 mile loop that includes Cone Peak. A viewing platform
sits on the summit at the site of an old fire lookout. On a clear day, one can see all the way north to Mt Hood and south to the Three Sisters. Peak
wildflower season is July, so this is the perfect opportunity to check out Iron Mountain!

The Crescent Mountain hike is challenging but with great scenic rewards! The main trailhead (south trailhead) is located a short distance from Santiam
Pass. The trail winds through lush old growth trees before switch-backing through an expansive meadow. After 4 miles, the trails tops out at the summit
with an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet. The hike pays dividends with spectacular views of the Cascade Mountains and wildflowers. Since this is not
a wilderness trail, Crescent Mountain is open to multiple uses including mountain bikes and horses. Please remember to be respectful and share the
trail!